lTenants have failed to produce occupancy documents lMeeting on June 25, to decide on eviction of erring tenants lMayor appeals to government not to go ahead with third phase of market complex
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A day after the city municipal market was flooded due to heavy rains that lashed the State on Thursday, the Corporation of the City of Panaji took a tough stance that no repair work of the market premise would be undertaken as the tenants failed to produce occupancy documents within the prescribed time period.
CCP has called for a crucial meeting on June 25, wherein a decision would be taken to evict the erring tenants from the respective shops. CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado said that the government is also likely to clear the lease agreement document by June 25, which is lying with it over the past three months.
In a bid to begin signing of lease agreement with the legal occupants of shops, the CCP had appealed to all occupants to submit valid documents of their occupancy claims by March 31. However, not a single tenant turned up following threats from the tenant association, Furtado claimed.
“We will make sure that action is taken. Will also ensure that the market is not repaired until legal and illegal occupants are identified,” the Mayor declared, cautioning, “I would appeal to the government not to go ahead with the third phase of the market complex till the mess in the first and second phase is sorted out.”
The lease agreement will be signed for a three year period with rent of Rs 256 per sqm as approved by Public Works Department. Government had in 2013 appointed the then South Goa District Collector, N D Agrawal to probe the municipal market shops scam. The report which exposed that almost 95 per cent of shopkeepers are illegal occupants is clearly silent on the involvement of the corporators, as well as CCP officials.
There is a heavy burden on CCP finances since it is denied precious revenue from market rents from the tenants since the construction of the market complex in 2002. The rent demand is around Rs 18 crore.
Meanwhile, CCP has planned to purchase a hydraulic lift for cutting trees sponsored by UCO Bank under its corporate social responsibility. The bank has handed over a demand draft of Rs 11.31 lakh to the CCP.
The government had in 2013 appointed the then South Goa District Collector, N D Agrawal to probe the municipal market shops scam. The report which exposed that almost 95 per cent of shopkeepers are illegal occupants is clearly silent on the involvement of the corporators, as well as CCP officials
